The triumphant winner of the hit BBC reality series The Traitors, Rachel Duffy, has finally broken her silence following her dramatic victory, offering an intimate glimpse into the emotional rollercoaster of the final episode. Appearing on the spin-off programme Uncloaked alongside her fellow Traitor and co-winner Stephen, Rachel candidly discussed the intense pressure and raw feelings that resurfaced while watching the climactic moments back.
Emotional Viewing Experience Brings Winner to Tears
Rachel, who had maintained her deceptive alliance with Stephen from the very beginning of the competition, confessed that revisiting their win proved to be a profoundly moving experience. "It's a lot more emotional than I remember," she revealed, describing how her carefully controlled composure during the actual event gave way to vulnerability upon reflection.
She elaborated on the specific moment that triggered her tears, pinpointing Stephen's visible hesitation during the final deliberations. "I wasn't letting my nerves shine through, because I knew what I was going to do, but I wasn't sure about Stephen. I was so nervous. Watching it back got me a bit. It made me cry," Rachel admitted, highlighting the immense trust required in a game built on deception.
Stephen's Expressive Face and Internal Conflict
For his part, Stephen acknowledged his own uncertainty during the finale, a state of mind now immortalised by his famously expressive facial reactions, which have since become a popular meme among viewers. "Unlike Rachel, I didn't know what I was going to do," he stated. "And watching it back, I can see it in my face. I've got quite an expressive face."
He and host Ed Gamble shared a light-hearted moment about his meme-worthy expressions before Stephen turned serious, reflecting on the difficult decision he faced. He expressed pride in his ultimate choice to remain loyal, praising the game Rachel played. However, he also delved into the inherent paranoia of the Traitors environment, explaining why trusting his fellow deceiver was such a monumental challenge.
"It's so hard to trust someone in there whose job it is to lie. And it's so hard to see how I could trust Rachel, but I'm so glad she was true to her word," Stephen confessed, underscoring the fragile nature of their pact.
The Tense Finale and a Revealing Slip-Up
The path to victory was fraught with tension from the outset of the final. The episode began with a high-stakes game of chance between Rachel and Faithful contestant James, who had both received the most votes for banishment. Each had to select a chest, with the one containing a shield securing their place in the final round. James's departure set the stage for the ultimate betrayal.
However, in a moment of post-challenge relief, Rachel may have inadvertently revealed her true allegiance. While thanking others for their support, she uttered the telling phrase: "If I were a Faithful, I would have murdered me." Although she quickly corrected herself to "If I were a Traitor," eagle-eyed fans immediately noted the Freudian slip, sparking speculation about whether Rachel herself had caught the error.
Strategic Maneuvering and the Power of the Pact
As the final roundtable discussions unfolded, Rachel focused her efforts on convincing fellow player Faraaz to vote out Jade. This strategy hit a snag when Faraaz expressed doubts to Jack, suggesting instead that both Jade and Rachel should be eliminated. Meanwhile, Stephen wrestled with his loyalty, confessing to the camera that turning on Rachel might have been a smarter survival tactic given the other players' perceptions of him.
"Defending Rachel could spell the end of my game," he mused, highlighting the constant risk calculation inherent in the competition. Despite this internal conflict, Stephen ultimately honoured the secret pact he and Rachel had forged. He joined forces with her to successively vote out Jade, Faraaz, and Jack, securing their historic joint victory.
By remaining faithful to each other until the very end, Rachel and Stephen etched their names into The Traitors history as the first pair of Traitors to successfully claim the prize pot together, a testament to their strategic alliance and, ultimately, their mutual trust in a game designed to destroy it.
